NFL will review Dennard conviction under conduct policy

While Patriots cornerback Alfonzo Dennard has far more significant problems in court, he also may have a little trouble at work.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello advises PFT that the league will review Dennard’s conviction for assaulting a police officer under the personal-conduct policy.

The review will occur even though the incident occurred before Dennard was drafted.

Arguably, the violation wasn’t crystallized until he was convicted. Still, the underlying conduct happened before Dennard was drafted. And he was punished for that transgression, as a practical matter, via the free-fall from round two to round seven of the 2012 draft.

If the league disciplines Dennard, look for him and the union to challenge it.

Godel has suspended players not charged and here is one charged and convicted. No way out Godel suspension or once again mustard all over your face.

Stiller43 says:Feb 20, 2013 2:04 PM

Well his sentence is up to 6 years?

If he’s in jail for a year, or even say 9 months…that will take care of having to suspend him, given the time he’ll miss behind bars

robertocfg says:Feb 20, 2013 2:05 PM

Relax, people. It says the league will review it, as they do with any other news involving an NFL player. Doesn’t mean squat. They didn’t say they’re deciding how much time to suspend him, just that they’ll review the situation.

I don’t think Goodell would like to suspend anyone. It just makes his job more difficult.

How about instead of blaming Goodell, we hold these players ACCOUNTABLE for their actions?

MMA Fighters and Boxers don’t even get in this much trouble and they fight for a living.

Quit blaming Goodell people. Blame the players who commit crimes.

CKL says:Feb 20, 2013 2:12 PM

Pats guys rarely if ever fight their league punishments for whatever reason, see Spikes/Cunningham with the substance policy suspensions for an example. Dennard, due to the above mentined Ellis case, would surely have a fantastic reason for doing so though if they punish him.

If Goodell would punish guys for doing stuff in college so as to discourage teams from drafting them (maybe part of why he dinged Pryor), he’s barking up the wrong tree with BB, and a lot of other risk friendly coaches/teams.

Dennard is going to jail. Any NFL suspension should run concurrent to his jail sentence as a simple formality. Before playing again he can meet with the commissioner for a final warning regarding future conduct. Anything more is just piling on.

grogansheroes says:Feb 20, 2013 2:24 PM

nwofolife says:
Feb 20, 2013 2:07 PM
I don’t think Goodell would like to suspend anyone. It just makes his job more difficult.

How about instead of blaming Goodell, we hold these players ACCOUNTABLE for their actions?

MMA Fighters and Boxers don’t even get in this much trouble and they fight for a living.

Quit blaming Goodell people. Blame the players who commit crimes.
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Hey nitwit, no one is giving the players a free pass. What they are blaming GODell for is the lack of a clear, consistent, policy. What’s a suspension for one player is not for another. I hope you are on school vacation because you need to learn to read with COMPREHENSION!

nfl finally has a no nonsense commissioner and these so called fans are crying about him? unreal!! best commissioner in any sport hands down!! he has to deal with all these assclowns and still gets critics coming out the woodwork.smfh!!

mazblast says:Feb 20, 2013 2:35 PM

Of course the few Patriot players who get fines and/or suspensions don’t fight them. It’s all been cleared with Kraft before it’s announced. Do you REALLY think any “discipline” for Pats or Giants players is handed out without the owner’s approval?

mazblast says:Feb 20, 2013 2:37 PM

Getting back to the subject–I think this is outside of the jurisdiction of The Great Roger Goodell Himself Live And In Person. How can you legally punish an employee for acts committed before his employment?

Hey nitwit, no one is giving the players a free pass. What they are blaming GODell for is the lack of a clear, consistent, policy. What’s a suspension for one player is not for another. I hope you are on school vacation because you need to learn to read with COMPREHENSION!
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For all the people crying about Goodells policies, I have to ask. What is the NFL policy on conviction of felony assault of a police officer?

Apples and oranges. Quit trying to compare Kendrick Ellis who wasn’t convicted of a felony and it wasn’t against a police officer. Also Ellis hadn’t declared for the draft yet.

Another question. Since Denard had declared for the draft prior to assaulting a police officer does that mean he is or is not exempt of discipline from the league. Does it matter that he wasn’t drafted yet?

These are the kind of grey areas Goodell has to deal with and you got dummy’s like grogansheroes who thinks the NFL needs some kind of standard policy.

flash1283 says:Feb 20, 2013 3:16 PM

craigmaitland says: Feb 20, 2013 2:53 PM

Stay classy New England… Media will spin this as a positive for the Pats.
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Most overused phrase on PFT
“Stay classy”

Second most overused,
“overrated”

It happened before he was drafted “stay ignorant ”

CKL says:Feb 20, 2013 4:02 PM

mazblast says:
Feb 20, 2013 2:35 PM
Of course the few Patriot players who get fines and/or suspensions don’t fight them. It’s all been cleared with Kraft before it’s announced. Do you REALLY think any “discipline” for Pats or Giants players is handed out without the owner’s approval?
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You’re a Steelers fan aren’t you? If so I hope you recall that the Rooneys basically handed the Roethlisberger discipline action over to Goodell. They could have suspended him themselves had they so chosen. The Panthers suspended Steve Smith for conduct detrimental without Goodell’s getting involved.

And as far as cameragate being “light”, that was the harshest punishment up through that time given to any team ever including others who did wrong like the Dolphins hiring Shula illegally (lesser draft pick involved), salary cap violations (SF and Denver) etc. So it would behoove you to know your history.

Sweet. So exactly how far back will the league be able to go to suspend a player if they choose to pursue this? How about freshman year in college when they got caught smoking pot? Would they be able to use a failed PED test in high school against a player? This isn’t a path the league wants to go down.

This baffles me, much like suspensions for incidents that occurred while the players were locked out, how can the NFL suspend a player for something that happened before they were an employee of the league. NFLPA should be licking their chops.